HOW WE GOT AN ELK. 
M. 
It was some years ago that I first con- 
tracted elk ague, though I had long before 
passed through the various stages of buck 
fever, which, however, did not render me 
proof against the major disease. 
A German friend of my father’s wished 
to take me with him on one of his num- 
erous hunting expeditions. I was only a 
boy of 15, but he had taken a fancy to me 
and promised I should kill my first elk 
on this trip. . 
Our outfit was a team of good horses, 
a heavy spring wagon, and 2 saddle ponies. 
Our destination was Pagoda peak, between 
White river and Williams fork. We 
reached the foot of the range, left our 
wagon and packed up the peak about 8 
miles, camping an hour before sundown. 
We ate a lunch, then mounting our ponies 
rode West of thepeakand through a num- 
ber of small snow fringed parks. There 
we found fresh elk sign. My companion 
stationed me at the edge of the timber, 
while he skirted the park. We had with us 
a fine hunting collie, and he stayed to keep 
me company, seeming to know I would 
need his help. . : 
I waited until the evening shadows be- 
gan to grow black in the thick timber. At 
last came the crack of Henry’s rifle to 
warn me to watch out. I rode out until 
from behind a knoll I could see the other 
end of the park, % mile away. They were 
coming toward me ata long, swinging trot, 
and I could faintly hear Henry’s rifle pump- 
ing a continuous stream of lead at them. 
The band ran in single file. Even in my 
excitement I could not help noticing their 
regimental order of retreat. The leader, 
a magnificent bull, seemed not to notice 
the disturbance, but preserved his steady 
trot, the rest following in straight line. 
As one would be crippled he would drop 
behind, a sound one taking his place. They 
at last came opposite me and not 50 yards 
distant. The dog and I stepped to the top 
of the knoll in plain view, and though the 
elk looked our way, they did not quicken 
their pace. The bunch must then have 
been 500 yards from Henry’s position, and 
here came his last shot, crashing through 
the hind leg of a large cow. She stepped 
aside to take her place behind. Now the 
dog’s work began and away down through 
the timber they went. 
I tried to get a good bead on the leader, 
but I had it bad, and missed. The bunch 
then broke file and ran. I was so excited 
I stood and watched them out of sight. 
never thinking of shooting again. 
turned to get my horse, but he was gone. 
I caught a glimpse of him going through 
Ss. 
G. 
the timber at full speed. Fearing I would 
lose him, I started after him, forgetting the 
elk for the time. At last, nearly tired out, 
the dog and I met. He had been as un- 
successful as I. He cocked his head on 
one side, looked at me a moment, then off 
he went, and I followed. Coming to a 
small park I saw the dog and horse. The 
horse was trying to pass, but the faithful 
dog would not let him. I mounted and we 
hurried back to where the elk had dis- 
appeared. 
_ I was tired, and wanted no more hunt- 
ing, so I began to call lustily for Henry, 
and at last, in desperation, I fired a shot, 
but got no response. Hearing the dog 
growl behind me I turned. He was look- 
ing at a small bunch of timber about 60 
feet back of us. Presently he jumped into 
the timber. I knew by his barking he had 
found something. Soon he came out, and 
stood wagging his tail and barking as 
though coaxing me to explore the thicket. 
I got off my horse, tied him, and started 
to investigate. I did not like the look 
of the place; the interlaced branches made 
it almost dark inside, so I contented my- 
self with throwing stones into the brush 
and shouting loudly. . 
There was no response, and I decided to 
enter the den. Having a magazine .45-90 
Winchester, I felt capable of putting up a 
good fight. The branches were woven 
overhead in such a way as to_form a low 
tunnel entrance; so bringing my rifle to 
a present arms at full cock, I stooped 
down and looked in. I could see nothing 
but blackness. Becoming bolder, I took 
2 steps inside, and a great dark object 
sprang up at my feet. My rifle was pointing 
straight ahead, and without lifting it to 
my shoulder, I fired. The animal bounded 
from the thicket; the dog and I followed. 
We saw running down the hill a large cow 
elk. The dog got ahead of her, and she 
stopped to fight, while I sat down on the 
hillside to make sure of my aim, for I was 
badly rattled. The cow was standing off 
the dog in spirited style. Each time he 
sprang at her throat she would raise and 
strike him with her forefeet. At last, 
getting a good aim, I put a ball behind 
her ear. The first shot entered the left 
flank, passed through the heart, and into 
the left shoulder. The hair on her flank 
was burned to the skin, showing how near 
she had been to the muzzle of the gun. 
I was of course hugely elated, and was 
skinning my prize when Henry found me. 
He had 4 elk dead and 6 wounded, to his 
discredit. 
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